Pouring Some Cold Water on Your Josh Hamilton Boner

I hate to do this to you during the holidays – pour ice water on your excitement – but Jon Heyman is reporting that it’s looking more and more likely that Josh Hamilton will stay in Texas: [CBS Sports]

Josh Hamilton and the Rangers have continued to stay in touch, and while the Mariners and others are showing interest, rivals suggest they believe the chances of Hamilton staying with Texas have increased in recent days.

They have increased because Zack Greinke, a target of the Rangers, signed with the Dodgers, and Justin Upton, another target, likely won’t be traded. That means the Rangers have the money to sign Hamilton or, at the very least, up the bidding for him. Had the Rangers got Greinke or Upton, they probably would have moved on from Hamilton, leaving teams like the Phillies and Mariners to duke it out. But that didn't happen, and the Rangers, being the incumbent, have the upper hand.

The Phillies reportedly made a three-year offer to Hamilton, according to Philadelphia radio station WIP, and while Philly GM Ruben Amaro has a reputation for luring the big fish, it's still hard to see Hamilton leaving Texas for a three-year deal. Presumably, they'd have to up that to four years, at least, have a chance.

Two things, though: If Hamilton wants so bad to be in Texas, why is it taking so long to resign? The market seems to be fairly dry, so why the delay in getting it done? Is Hamilton just playing the Phillies and Mariners to up his price for Texas? Or, are the reported three-year offers from the Phils and Mariners not really what’s out there? I find it hard to believe that the Phillies – who have the cash, and who would almost benefit by offering something like four years, $100 million instead of three years, $80 million (lower AAV to stay under luxury tax threshold) – wouldn’t offer more than what has been reported. Ruben Amaro isn’t one to balk at overspending on a superstar, especially if said superstar could be signed for under $100 million.

It sounds like the Rangers have enough going for them – money, incumbent, need – to resign Hamilton. But I can’t imagine that if the Phillies really did offer three years, $80 million, they wouldn’t go a little bit higher if it meant the difference between signing Hamilton and settling for someone like Cody Ross, who, again, can go fuck himself.

Money trumps incumbency, as Albert Pujols showed us last year (it also trumps job security as Buehrle and Reyes showed us this year), and Ruben doesn’t get outspent if he REALLY wants someone. If Hamilton isn’t in a Phillies uniform next year, it won’t be because he COULDN’T get him.

They are better off having JMJ in the outfield every day than to overpay Cody Ross. Get a starter and bullpen pieces for the money you would spend on that bum. It doesn’t really matter, they need an actual manager before they ever win another World Series. Bochey proved that it takes brains more than talent to win multiple World Series.

Well, my Hamilton “boner” never existed since my interest in him was lukewarm at best. I’m still leery of the guy because of his substance abuse baggage. I mean, what good is all his power if he’s on the shelf for God knows how many games from a suspension if and when he suffers the inevitable relapse? If I’m Ruben, I wash my hands of Hamilton, then call Miami and see what it would take to get Giancarlo Stanton. I’d rather have Stanton since he’s younger than Hamilton, just as powerful with the bat, plays better defense, and has no skeletons in his closet.